Mystery & SF/F Recommendations, 2016

Kingdom of Strangers takes us into the secretive world of women in Saudi Arabia. Katya, one of the few policewomen in Jeddah, finds herself on the hunt for both a missing woman and a serial killer, while hiding a secret of her own. Katya is a great heroine, and Ferraris’s writing is so vividly detailed, you can feel the heat burning off the sands. If you want something a little different, give this a try! —Flannery

Set in the depression-era Appalachian mountains, this atmospheric mystery builds off folklore to examine destiny, desperation, and morality. After convincing the county commissioners to let her take over her deceased husband’s role as sheriff, Ellie Robbins becomes responsible for carrying out an execution and—in a time when women were considered incapable of handling many tasks—this makes everyone unhappy. —Nici

This tightly-wound psychological thriller begs the question, “How well can you truly know someone?” As D.S. Jeanette Kihlberg navigates a series of abominable child murders across Stockholm, a deftly woven web of secrets and lies bubbles to the surface, both on the case and in her personal life. Friends, family, lovers—are they all just roles to be played? A dark well-crafted page-turner that takes the reader to the depths of the human conscience and all the furtive secrets shrouded within. —Sylvie

What should have been a simple favor sends James Beck and his tight-knit crew into a firestorm of epic proportions. Can they juggle all these enemies, keep themselves out of trouble with the law, and somehow steal their own piece of the millions of dollars at stake? Move over Reacher, sit down Burke, I’ve got a new action hero crush. —Nici

Sure, you’ve probably seen the movie, but that definitely doesn’t mean you shouldn’t read the book. It’s just as full of edge-of-your-seat tension. Harris gives Buffalo Bill a much more detailed, complex persona, while Hannibal Lector remains as iconically creepy as ever. But it’s Clarice Starling, one of the best mystery heroines ever—smart, tough, and doggedly tenacious—who cements this as one of my all-time favorite mysteries.